Vadodara: Six persons including four minor boys aged 16-17 years and two youths were detained on Tuesday for allegedly molesting four teenage girls and beating up their family members when confronted in Padra on Monday.
According to police, the four minor boys had been allegedly harassing the girls aged between 15 and 17 years, for the last couple of days. But on Monday their behaviour worsened as they followed the girls, whistled at them and passed lewd comments.
The teenage girls, who live in the same neighbourhood, were walking back to their homes after giving vegetables to a family friend living nearby when the four minor boys along with their friend Satish Parmar (29) followed them in Parmar’s van. Parmar drives the van for a private company on Padra road.
While, following the girls, the five accused played sleazy songs at high volume in the van. When the girls stopped at a provision store, one of the boys whistled at them and again started following them as the girls walked towards their houses. On reaching the gate of their society, another boy made lewd comments at the girls.
All five of them fled when they saw one of the girls’ brothers coming out of the society. As he noticed that something was amiss, he shouted at the five accused to stop and challenged them. The girls told him and their mothers and one more neighbour, who had come out of his house hearing the commotion about the harassment.
One of the girls and their family members went to confront the five accused at their residence. When confronted, five accused hurled abuses at the girls’ family members and allegedly beat them up.
The sixth accused, who is also one of the minor boys’ elder brother, came out of his house with an iron pipe and attacked the girls’ mothers. He also kicked one teenage girl in her abdomen. They were somehow rescued by some locals. The teenage girl had to be taken to the health centre in Padra for treatment.
Based on her complaint an offence of sexual harassment, assault, rioting and violation of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was registered.
On Tuesday, all six were detained and Covid-19 tests of two adult accused were also conducted.